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(No Model.) 7

J. W. WOODWARD. AMBIDEXTER 0B LEFT HAND REFERENCE BOOK.

No. 589,885. Patented Sept. 14,1897.

.K t c Z\ f*'\ J 5 i 3 i A 5 T? ig 0/ A 12 Q a s Q 'c J (WM/W) WITNESSES. l/VVE/VTOI? ATTORNEY.

NirE TATES i ATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH IV. \VOOD'WARD, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 589,885, dated September 14, 1897. Application filed January 18, 1 597. $erial No. 619,700. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH \V. IVOODWARD, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvements in Ambidexter or Left- IIand Reference-Books; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to an improvement in books, and comprises an ambidexter or left-hand arrangement of a book-cover and index applicable to all index and reference books.

The book covered by my invention is intended to be used to expedite matters in that the book is so arranged that it can be readily operated by the left hand, so as to instantly disclose the various pages that it is desired to consult, so that the right hand is free and at liberty for the annotation of notes.

Heretofore it has been usual to place a book in such a manner that it would be operated by the right hand, the left assisting in the finding of the place, but my book, owing to a peculiar construction thereof, is arranged so that it can be readily and conveniently handled by the left hand alone.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown in Figure 1 a View disclosing the rear cover of myimproved book. Fig. 2 discloses the book as opened and adapted to be operated and handled by the left hand, while Fig. 3 showsfa top View thereof, disclosing the rear cover and the removed portion thereof.

In the use of this book the object is to provide a device by means of which reference and data may be readily obtained from a reference-book. In order to accomplish this, I provide an ordinary book of any suitable size and material and comprising the usual front cover A, the back B, and leaves D, with the usual rear cover A, but which cover is provided with an upper removed portion, which removed portion (3 is detached from the cover A and is secured to the rear fly-leaf a of the book, so that this rear fly-leaf is provided with this reinforcement, as is shown in Fig. 2. lVhen closed, however, this rear cover A", in conjunction with the portion O, forms a complete cover, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

The book is used in placing the same on a table or other suitable support in such a manner that the back A comes to the bottom, the front page A extending upward. The left wrist is then placed upon this upper bookcover, with the fingers extending over the top end, and with them the entire book is lifted, the fingers grasping the cover-section O to turn over the full book, as is shown in Fig. 2. The hand is then slid down and under the left-hand cover of the book, placing the thumb upon the proper index and turning the book to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, when by means of the thumb and fingers of the left hand any index can be instantly referred to without the aid of the right hand. By this means the right hand can be used entirely to make annotations p The device is applicable to reference-books to be used in freight-yards and the like where the operator is required to take down annotations.

The device is very simple, and, having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to be secured by United States Letters Patent, is

The combination in areference-book, of the covers, A, and A, the back, B, and the rear removed cover portion, 0, secured to the fly-leaf, a, in combination with the indexpages, D.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH W. VVOODW ARD. 

